AntiChristian:
Mustard Seed is not the smallest seed

He put before them another parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree,
so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.
Matthew 13:31-32

I doubt a mustard seed can even grow to a tree that birds would nest on!

A Cool Parable though but ....Kobojunkie, Elated177, NNTR, tctrills.

AntiChristian:

Mustard Seed is not the smallest seed
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. Matthew 13:31-32

I doubt a mustard seed can even grow to a tree that birds would nest on!

A Cool Parable though but ....Kobojunkie, Elated177, NNTR, tctrills.

MightySparrow:



What is the smallest seed?

NNTR:
In that part of the world, in that region, to be precise, in that Levant region, mustard is the smallest seed, as it is assumed in Jewish circles, psyches or thoughts, in the time of Jesus Christ, to be the smallest of all the seeds.

Now, as for birds taking shelter in as a tree, simply is a case of a hyperbole here. Essentially, a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show emphasis with.

So, in both cases, this is a matter of a cultural use of the mustard as having the smallest size and a proverbial slash hyperbole, use of it, as a 'tree' that birds can take shelter in

triplechoice:

What's a parable?

It's important to know that first

AntiChristian:


So in parables "smallest" becomes "smaller"?

Abeg!

AntiChristian:
Bro, orchid is commoner in Palestine and small as dust particles!

AntiChristian:
The verse was a mistake!

NNTR:
It is this fact that orchid is as small as dust particles, meaning it is so small as to be visible only with a microscope, that it gets no mention nor consideration when teachings, with characteristically pithy saying, stating general truth or biblical piece of advice are given

Bro, it is no mistaken. This is a deliberate, calculating and conscious comment.

All manners of plants, tree and flowers are mentioned throughout the Bible, from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil of Genesis, rose of Sharon, to the lilies of the field, in New Testament, but incredibly and interestingly, orchid, though, yes, a hothouse plant, is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, simply because since its microscopic, it is too small to be seen with the eyes, it gives no value to be used in teachings because the audience wouldnt be able to relate, but with mustard its dead easy. Its seen with the eyes, can be touched, can be felt and to top it all, is more easily relatable

AntiChristian:
You sabi write long nonsense o!

AntiChristian:
Mustard seed is not the smallest.

AntiChristian:
Mustard trees can't support bird's nesting!

AntiChristian:


You sabi write long nonsense o!
Mustard seed is not the smallest.
Mustard trees can't support bird's nesting!

AntiChristian:


Orchid is smaller and commoner in Jesus's environment then.

MightySparrow:


When orchid seed grows big is it also bigger than mustard?

AntiChristian:


The emphasis is on "smallest seed".

NNTR:
Writing long nonsense is good, so to wake up your brain cells

Mustard seed is the smallest visible to the eyes of the Jew and its the candidate of choice, used in biblical instructions, teaching and advice

The mustard shrubs, easily can and will support bird's nesting, when they become trees, just as, like in below pic!

MightySparrow:


What is wrong with that?
That's even half of the sentence: is orchid tree bigger than mustard tree

AntiChristian:
Then the verse should have simply stated it as you said! Isn't that still a mistake?

AntiChristian:

I doubt a mustard seed can even grow to a tree that birds would nest on!

AntiChristian:


But the mustard seed is not the smallest of all seed...

MightySparrow:


Is it only half of the sentence is correct? Is there any correction between the two parts of the sentence?

Why are you dodging questions if you are a Bible scholar?

You show abysmal ignorance in your posts?

Isn't better for you to take arms and do your jihad the way of Mohammed than coming here to confuse yourself?

AntiChristian:


All of the sentences are correct.
1. The Mustard seed is not the smallest seed common in Palestine as at the time of Jesus!
2. Mustard Seeds don't grow into trees!
The word used in Greek is lachanōn translated as garden plant can actually mean an herb, garden plant or vegetable.

A. Just because it is tall does not mean it is a tree.
B. It does not even look remotely like a tree.

MightySparrow:



You miss it Sir! He was saying that although mustard seed is the smallest seed that would produce a big tree. Smallest and big/might are relative.


You could google a mustard tree not shrub.
Anyways, that is not even the thrust of the parable. You are not expected to understand because:

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mark 4:11

and

[b]1 Corinthians 2:9-16
[9]But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
[10]But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
[11]For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
[12]Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
[13]Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
[14]But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
[15]But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
[16]For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ/.


[/b]

triplechoice:
A parable is a short fictional story that's meant to teach a moral truth or any other life lessons.

The fictional tale in the parable of the mustard seed shouldn't be used by anyone as a scientific guide in determining
the smallest seed in the world as the story is not meant to reflect the real world as it is.

This is something that can be easily understood by those who are familiar with imaginative literature, and this is exactly why I have asked previously for the meaning of a parable..


Parables are examples of allegories where animals are made to talk even when we know that's not possible.

The imaginative invention in a parable is actually meant to stimulate the imagination of the audience ,for whom it's directed to ,in order to reinforce in their minds the actual message behind the parable so they don't forget it easily.


It's obvious that the audience for the parable of the mustard seed were
mostly agrarians who cultivate such plant all the time , and for this it would impossible for them to easily forget what they were taught.

I'm not a Jesus worshipper, but I know that the parable of the mustard seed contains a truth that is timeless;
If you begin a project, don't be discouraged by how small you start. Keep faith and focus your attention unwavering on what you want to achieve and you will surely achieve it . That's the message.

It's a psychological fact that most people who attain great success in life are those who have great self belief and trust greatly that they would succeed in whatever they set out to accomplish, no matter where they begin from.

The Op is just chasing shadows and trying to divert people's attention from the real thing.

AntiChristian:


Thank you!
But it is agreed that the verse is a mistake. Orchid is a more commoner and smaller seed in Palestine at the time. Even the Mustard seed does not grow to trees for birds to nest on!

triplechoice:


Yes, a mistake if the narrator was narrating a true story, but he was telling a parable, a fiction, in order to teach something. So he can't be accused of making a mistake.

Or do you have another definition for a parable?

AntiChristian:


A Parable should still be be concise and correct! What if He had said ..."One of the smallest common seed...." And saying Mustard tree grows into a tall tree that supports birds nesting is another "lamba".

triplechoice:


No. That's why it's called a parable, a fictional tale. It's not meant to reflect the real world as it is.

The message behind the fictional story should be your focus and not the fiction in it.

You can only find fault if the narrator were recounting a true life experience, but in this instance he wasn't.

The "certain man" who planted the mustard in his garden, is a fictional character. He doesn't exist. The garden also doesn't exist. But you're only focus on the description of the mustard seed and want it to real.
Why?

AntiChristian:


So falsehood can be permitted in Parables?

triplechoice:


What's the definition for a parable?

Please answer that first. You have refused to answer that question in a thread you yourself created to discuss it. Very strange.